www.
Breaking News English.com
Ready-to-use ESL/EFL Lessons
Japanese WW2 soldiers found in jungle
URL: http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/0505/050528-soldiers.html
Today’s contents
The Article
2
Warm-ups
3
Before Reading / Listening
4
While Reading / Listening
5
After Reading
6
Discussion
7
Speaking
8
Listening Gap Fill
9
Homework
10
Answers
11
28 May, 2005
Japan’s WW2 soldiers found in jungle - 28 May, 2005
THE ARTICLE
Japanese WW2 soldiers found in jungle
BNE: Two Japanese men claiming to be World War II soldiers
have surfaced from a Philippine jungle. Yoshio Yamakawa, 87,
and Tsuzuki Nakauchi, 83, claim they have been on the
southern island of Mindanao since being stationed there in the
early 1940s, perhaps as early as 1941, the year Japan
invaded the Philippines. It is believed they may not know of
Japan’s surrender in August 1945 to Allied forces. They had
apparently been living in an area on Mindanao held by
separatist guerillas who have long been engaged in a conflict
with the Philippine army. The two octogenarians still had their
WWII army issue, in verification of their claims to have been
left behind after the war ended.
The veterans’ existence came to light after they were
discovered by a Japanese national who was collecting the
remains of war dead. Japan’s Sankei Shimbun daily
newspaper said the elderly veterans want to be repatriated,
but fear facing a court martial and execution for deserting the
front lines. Officials from the Japanese Embassy met the men
Friday, May 27, to try to confirm their identities. Reports
indicate another 40 former Japanese soldiers may be holed up
in the same mountains. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said:
“It is a surprise if it’s true. We are checking it now.” The last
WWII-era soldier to emerge from the Philippine jungles was
Hiroo Oona in 1974. He refused to believe the war had ended.
Find this and similar lessons at http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com
2
Japan’s WW2 soldiers found in jungle - 28 May, 2005
WARM-UPS
1. SURVIVAL:
Half of the class has just spent the past 10 years living in the
jungle, the other half has spent the same time living in the desert. Jungle survivors and
desert survivors talk to each other to describe how they lived and what they did each
day.
2. JUNGLE:
Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you
associate with the word “jungle”. Share your words with your partner / group and talk
about them.
3. HARSH ENVIRONMENTS:
Rank these environments in order of which is the most difficult to survive in for a year.
Talk about the difficulties of surviving in each one.
Choose one environment in which you would like to try living for a year.







A Philippine jungle
Baghdad
Sahara Desert
Antarctica
Siberia
Grand Canyon
Mountain Everest
4. CHAT:
In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words are most
interesting and which are most boring.
Japanese men / WWII soldiers / Philippines / jungles / WWII / octogenarians
Have a chat about the topics you liked. For more conversation, change topics and
partners frequently.
5. I’M HOME:
Imagine you have been in the jungle for 60 years. Think about how
the world has changed.
a. Talk with your partner / group about the changes you have seen and experienced
since returning home. What are the most surprising, saddest and most amazing
things?
b. Make a list of the changes or surprises and write them on the board or on a piece
of paper. Look at the things other students have written and talk about them.
c. Which new things do you like about life today?
d. Talk about which is better, life in 1945 or life today.
Find this and similar lessons at http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com
3
Japan’s WW2 soldiers found in jungle - 28 May, 2005
BEFORE READING / LISTENING
1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these
sentences are true (T) or false (F):
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
The remains of two Japanese WWII soldiers have been found.
Two Japanese WWII soldiers have been found still fighting.
The men may not know of Japan’s surrender at the end of the war.
The two men had joined a guerilla army fighting a separatist war.
The two octogenarians were looking for the remains of war dead.
The old war veterans may face execution upon repatriation to Japan.
There are reports of another 40 old soldiers in the same jungle.
Japan’s prime minister is going to the jungle to check things out.
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
surfaced
stationed
surrender
guerilla
verification
came to light
repatriated
court martial
deserting
era
was revealed
confirmation
military tribunal
emerged
returned
insurgent
put
abandoning
period
white flag
3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes
more than one combination is possible):
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
surfaced from
since being stationed
held by separatist
engaged in a
in verification of
Their existence came
the remains
facing a court
deserting the front
may be holed
guerillas
their claims
to light
the Philippine jungle
of war dead
lines
there in the early 1940s
conflict with the Philippine army
up in the same mountains
martial
Find this and similar lessons at http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com
4
Japan’s WW2 soldiers found in jungle - 28 May, 2005
WHILE READING / LISTENING
ODD WORD OUT: Circle the word each group of three (in italics) that
does not fit.
Japanese WW2 soldiers found in jungle
BNE: Two Japanese men claiming / professing / clamming to be World
War II soldiers have surfaced / topped / emerged from a Philippine
jungle. Yoshio Yamakawa, 87, and Tsuzuki Nakauchi, 83, claim they have
been on the southern island of Mindanao since being mailed / stationed /
posted there in the early 1940s, perhaps as early as 1941, the year Japan
invaded the Philippines. It is believed they may not know of Japan’s
capitulation / suspender / surrender in August 1945 to Allied forces. They
had apparently been living in an area on Mindanao held by separatist
gorillas / guerillas / insurgents who have long been engaged in a conflict
with the Philippine army. The two octogenarians still had their WWII army
equipment / issue / tissues, in verification of their claims to have been
left behind after the war ended.
The veterans’ existence came to dark / was revealed / came to light after
they were discovered by a Japanese national / citizen / nationality who
was collecting the remains of war dead. Japan’s Sankei Shimbun daily
newspaper said the elderly veterans / vets / veterinarians want to be
repatriated, but fear facing a court martial and execution for deserting /
abandoning / dishing the front lines. Officials from the Japanese Embassy
met the men Friday, May 27, to try to confirm their identities. Reports
indicate another 40 former Japanese soldiers may be holed up /
subsisting / tooled up in the same mountains. Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi said: “It is a surprise if it’s true. We are checking it now.” The
last WWII-era soldier to emerge / submerge / walk out from the
Philippine jungles was Hiroo Oona in 1974. He refused to believe the war
had ended.
Find this and similar lessons at http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com
5
Japan’s WW2 soldiers found in jungle - 28 May, 2005
AFTER READING
1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionaries / computer to find
collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words
‘jungle’ and ‘survival’.



Share your findings with your partners.
Make questions using the words you found.
Ask your partner / group your questions.
2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down
some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.


Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
Ask your partner / group your questions.
3. ODD WORD OUT: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this
exercise. Check your answers. Talk about possible relationships the “odd”
words out might have with the correct words.
4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups,
pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.
5. STUDENT JUNGLE SURVEY: In pairs / groups write down
questions about jungles and survival.



Ask other classmates your questions and note down their answers.
Go back to your original partner / group and compare your findings.
Make a mini-presentation to another group / the class on your
findings.
6. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner,
try to recall exactly how these were used in the text:






surfaced
stationed
surrender
separatist
conflict
issue






light
repatriated
front lines
holed up
checking
era
Find this and similar lessons at http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com
6
Japan’s WW2 soldiers found in jungle - 28 May, 2005
DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
What was your initial reaction to this article?
Have you heard similar stories before?
How surprised are you at this news?
What emotions do you think the old soldiers are experiencing now?
Do you think they still believe America is their enemy?
Would their story make a good movie?
Should the Japanese government have done more to find their
missing in action?
h. How long would you be able to survive in the jungle?
i. What would you do to survive?
j. What will the old men think of the 21st Century?
STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
Did you like reading the article?
Did the headline make you want to read the article?
What did you think of this news?
How do you think it’s possible to remain cut off from the world for
so long?
Should they now be court-martialed for deserting the front lines?
Should they receive a hero’s welcome when they arrive back in
Japan?
Should they receive back pay for their 60 years of military service?
Should they get a medal?
Do you think there are other soldiers fighting other long-ended
wars?
Did you like this discussion?
AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them
what you talked about.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
What question would you like to ask about this topic?
What was the most interesting thing you heard?
Was there a question you didn’t like?
Was there something you totally disagreed with?
What did you like talking about?
Do you want to know how anyone else answered the questions?
Which was the most difficult question?
Find this and similar lessons at http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com
7
Japan’s WW2 soldiers found in jungle - 28 May, 2005
SPEAKING
WELCOME TO THE 21st CENTURY:
You are head of the repatriation
committee for the returning soldiers. They have had no contact with the outside
world for 60 years. Your job is to bring them up to date on the important events
of the past six decades.
In pairs / groups, decide on the two most essential things they need to know
about the following five areas (you must decide the fifth category):
World history
1.
2.
International
relations
1.
2.
Sport
1.
2.
Technology
1.
2.
Your choice
1.
__________
__________
2.
Change partners / groups and compare your choices. Discuss which of your
choices are best and combine them so that you both / all agree.
Role play the “updating” session between the repatriation committee member
the totally in-the-dark war veteran (who will have many questions!).
Find this and similar lessons at http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com
8
Japan’s WW2 soldiers found in jungle - 28 May, 2005
LISTENING
Listen and fill in the spaces.
Japanese WW2 soldiers found in jungle
BNE: Two Japanese men claiming to be World War II soldiers
____ ________ ____ a Philippine jungle. Yoshio Yamakawa, 87, and
Tsuzuki Nakauchi, 83, claim they have been on the southern island of
Mindanao since _____ _____ _________ in the early 1940s, perhaps as
early as 1941, the year Japan invaded the Philippines. It is believed they
may not know __ ______ ________ __ August 1945 to Allied forces.
They had apparently been living in an area on Mindanao held by
__________ _________ who have long been engaged in a conflict with
the Philippine army. The two octogenarians still had their WWII army
issue, __ ___________ __ their claims to have been left behind after the
war ended.
The veterans’ _________ ____ __ _____ after they were discovered by a
Japanese national who was collecting the remains of war dead. Japan’s
Sankei
Shimbun
daily
newspaper
said
the
elderly
veterans
____ __ __ __________, but fear facing a court martial and execution for
_________ ___ _____ ____. Officials from the Japanese Embassy met
the men Friday, May 27, to try to confirm their identities. Reports indicate
another 40 former Japanese soldiers ___ __ _____ __ __ the same
mountains. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said: “It is a surprise if it’s
true. We are checking it now.” The last WWII-___ _______ __ ________
from the Philippine jungles was Hiroo Oona in 1974. He refused to believe
the war had ended.
Find this and similar lessons at http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com
9
Japan’s WW2 soldiers found in jungle - 28 May, 2005
HOMEWORK
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from
the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search
engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find information on the story of
the old Japanese soldiers. Keep updated with the news of them and share
your findings with your class in the next lesson.
3. JUNGLE SURVIVAL KIT: Write an emergency guide for a jungle
survival kit. List the ten most essential things necessary for survival, with
an explanation of how to use them. Show it to your classmates in your
next lesson.
4. DIARY: Imagine you are one of the old Japanese soldiers. You have
been back at home for one week. Write your diary / journal entry
explaining your feelings to be home. Describe what you have done in
your first seven days. Write also about the things that have surprised and
saddened you. Show your diary / journal entry to your classmates in your
next lesson. Did you write about the same things?
Find this and similar lessons at http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com
10
Japan’s WW2 soldiers found in jungle - 28 May, 2005
ANSWERS
TRUE / FALSE:
a. F
b. F
c. T
d. F
e. F
f. F
g. T
h. F
SYNONYM MATCH:
a.
surfaced
emerged
b.
stationed
put
c.
surrender
white flag
d.
guerilla
insurgent
e.
verification
confirmation
f.
came to light
was revealed
g.
repatriated
returned
h.
court martial
military tribunal
i.
deserting
abandoning
j.
era
period
PHRASE MATCH:
a.
surfaced from
the Philippine jungle
b.
since being stationed
there in the early 1940s
c.
held by separatist
guerillas
d.
engaged in a
conflict with the Philippine army
e.
in verification of
their claims
f.
Their existence came
to light
g.
the remains
of war dead
h.
facing a court
martial
i.
deserting the front
lines
j.
may be holed
up in the same mountains
GAP FILL:
Japanese WW2 soldiers found in jungle
BNE: Two Japanese men claiming / professing / clamming to be World War II soldiers have
surfaced / topped / emerged from a Philippine jungle. Yoshio Yamakawa, 87, and Tsuzuki
Nakauchi, 83, claim they have been on the southern island of Mindanao since being mailed /
stationed / posted there in the early 1940s, perhaps as early as 1941, the year Japan invaded the
Philippines. It is believed they may not know of Japan’s capitulation / suspender / surrender in
August 1945 to Allied forces. They had apparently been living in an area on Mindanao held by
separatist gorillas / guerillas / insurgents who have long been engaged in a conflict with the
Philippine army. The two octogenarians still had their WWII army equipment / issue / tissues, in
verification of their claims to have been left behind after the war ended.
The veterans’ existence came to dark / was revealed / came to light after they were discovered by
a Japanese national / citizen / nationality who was collecting the remains of war dead. Japan’s
Sankei Shimbun daily newspaper said the elderly veterans / vets / veterinarians want to be
repatriated, but fear facing a court martial and execution for deserting / abandoning / dishing the
front lines. Officials from the Japanese Embassy met the men Friday, May 27, to try to confirm
their identities. Reports indicate another 40 former Japanese soldiers may be holed up / subsisting
/ tooled up in the same mountains. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said: “It is a surprise if it’s
true. We are checking it now.” The last WWII-era soldier to emerge / submerge / walk out from
the Philippine jungles was Hiroo Oona in 1974. He refused to believe the war had ended.
Find this and similar lessons at http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com
11